Safety: Traffic Incidents

Even though the Smith Driving program teaches us best practices for safe driving and preventing incidents, it’s still important to know what to do if something unexpected happens. To make sure GUC employees know how to report a fleet incident, the Safety Office would like to share the following steps: 

1. Immediately following a vehicle incident, make sure your vehicle is in a safe location and is not affecting the flow of traffic, according to NC State laws. 
2. Place safety cones around the vehicle to secure the area.  
3. Call Station One at 252-329-2288 and tell them what happened. Be sure to provide them with your exact location. They relay the incident information to the correct parties, such as your supervisor, the safety office, and/or Fleet. They will also contact the appropriate law enforcement officials and/or emergency services.  
4. Wait for help. You must remain on the scene while waiting for a GUC Safety Office representative and a law enforcement official. Make sure to have the GUC registration, GUC proof of insurance information, and your driver’s license readily available.  
5. Upon arrival of GUC’s Safety Office representative, he/she will take a statement of how the incident occurred and will take pictures of any damages to the GUC vehicle, as well as handle all associated paperwork. Any citations that are issued as a result of the incident are the responsibility of the driver.  
6. Based on the circumstances of the incident, the employee may be subject to substance screening. Screening is conducted at the Occupational Health Clinic, where employees will be sent once they are released from the scene by law enforcement. 

To help prevent an incident, remember to practice these five keys of Smith Driving every time you’re on the road: 

1. Aim High in Steering 
2. Get the Big Picture 
3. Keep Your Eyes Moving 
4. Leave Yourself an Out 
5. Make Sure They See You 

 STAY SAFE out there!